YA Author

Top Ten Best Books I Read in 2015

This is my first Top Ten Tuesday and it’s one I’m super, super excited about mainly because I read SO MANY damn good books this year. I was going to try to limit this to 2015 releases but then I just said “screw it” so here we go!

*Books are in no particular order*

1.) Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz
Yes, there are technically two Hannah Moskowitz books on this list, what can I say, she’s a damn good writer. Not Otherwise Specified was one of the most realistic, heart-rending portrayals of intersectional diversity I read this year, and Etta’s voice is amazing and jumps off the page.

2.) The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
I had the absolute pleasure of hearing Nova speak at Salem College this year and she’s every bit as wonderful as this book was, a chilling ghost story that beautifully weaves in feminism and heart.

3.) All the Rage by Courtney Summers
I read this book in two days, and Courtney Summers continues to prove why she’s an absolute master of contemporary YA—and why we need more stories like Romy’s and more stories about “difficult” girls.

4.) Second Position by Katherine Locke.
Full disclosure here: Katie is my CP BUT even if she weren’t I would have loved this book. Ballet, disability, romance, and some of the best damn therapy scenes I’ve ever read in literature.

5.) A Sense of the Infinite by Hilary T. Smith
This is probably the book I wish more people had been talking about, because damn what a gorgeous book. Smith’s sophomore novel handles tough situations with difficulty and offers a realistic, heartbreaking look into a friendship falling apart.

6.)Underneath Everything by Marcy Beller Paul
Toxic homoerotic friendship. That’s all I have to say.
Except seriously, this was a compelling, twisted book and what I wish more contemporary could be.

7.) George by Alex GinoNot only was George super adorable and fun, but it’s a super important #ownvoices novel with a trans MC, and one that’ll change the face of middle grade books.

8.) Conviction by Kelly Loy Gilbert
2015 was a seriously good year for hard-hitting, debut contemporary books. Gilbert’s debut tackled faith and abuse in a way I haven’t seen in YA before, and was an extremely compelling and amazing read.

9.) Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson
I have more to say about this book (since it’s not out til 2016) but hot damn not since Cameron Post have I read a book more that validated my identity as a queer teen involved in fandom. Seriously be on the lookout for this one.

10.) Last Year’s Mistake by Gina Ciocca
I adored this book. It was a fun, adorable read that had me rooting for the romance from start to finish (and I’m not typically a romance girl).

So that’s my top ten books this year! It was super hard to narrow them all down, but if you haven’t read any of these, please check them out.